Looks like H&H power amps are back into production.

[guitarnerdswe]

EVH's use of the HH amp was likely the result of it being the only thing he could afford at the time, or something someone gave him. There were several high quality mosfet power amplifers available in those days. Hell, you could buy 60's era Marshall, VOX, Music Man, Fender, SUNN.... gear for next to nothing. I once purchased 2 x stock '72 Marshall Super Lead 100 watt half-stacks for $500.00 each.

Well, Bob Bradshaw built his rig, as well as many others during that time period, all using HH power amps. I'm pretty sure Bob chose the HHs, not the clients.

 

[Racerxrated]

EVH's use of the HH amp was likely the result of it being the only thing he could afford at the time, or something someone gave him. There were several high quality mosfet power amplifers available in those days. Hell, you could buy 60's era Marshall, VOX, Music Man, Fender, SUNN.... gear for next to nothing. I once purchased 2 x stock '72 Marshall Super Lead 100 watt half-stacks for $500.00 each.

Not sure if you are serious...EVH not being able to afford something?? Back in the 80s???? Cmon man. That’s just silly talk.

Pretty sure he could afford whatever the hell he wanted at that time. This was well after the VH1 album.
To this day he still has multiple HH V800s in his touring rack. Steve Stevens and others swore by the HH as it was the best power amp for reamping multiple cabinets on stage for live use.
If the pros use/used them live I’d bet there’s something to that.

 

[Goat]

EVH's use of the HH amp was likely the result of it being the only thing he could afford at the time, or something someone gave him. There were several high quality mosfet power amplifers available in those days. Hell, you could buy 60's era Marshall, VOX, Music Man, Fender, SUNN.... gear for next to nothing. I once purchased 2 x stock '72 Marshall Super Lead 100 watt half-stacks for $500.00 each.

Not sure if you are serious...EVH not being able to afford something?? Back in the 80s???? Cmon man. That’s just silly talk.

Pretty sure he could afford whatever the hell he wanted at that time. This was well after the VH1 album.
To this day he still has multiple HH V800s in his touring rack. Steve Stevens and others swore by the HH as it was the best power amp for reamping multiple cabinets on stage for live use.
If the pros use/used them live I’d bet there’s something to that.

I'll see your two laughy bouncy heads, and raise you one laughy bouny head.

I thought Ed was reamping long before he hit the big time? From what I recall, Ed wasn't exactly rolling in cash in those days. His guitar was cobbled together using throw-away parts. I think it was Seymour Duncan who gave him a pickup to put in it.

 

[Goat]

EVH's use of the HH amp was likely the result of it being the only thing he could afford at the time, or something someone gave him. There were several high quality mosfet power amplifers available in those days. Hell, you could buy 60's era Marshall, VOX, Music Man, Fender, SUNN.... gear for next to nothing. I once purchased 2 x stock '72 Marshall Super Lead 100 watt half-stacks for $500.00 each.

Well, Bob Bradshaw built his rig, as well as many others during that time period, all using HH power amps. I'm pretty sure Bob chose the HHs, not the clients.

So, you're saying that Ed didn't begin using HH amps until after he made it big? Okay... I get it. Regardless, there was a nice selection of high quality MOSFET power amplifiers available in those days. The only "magic" involved, was Ed's talent and ability.

 

[Racerxrated]

EVH's use of the HH amp was likely the result of it being the only thing he could afford at the time, or something someone gave him. There were several high quality mosfet power amplifers available in those days. Hell, you could buy 60's era Marshall, VOX, Music Man, Fender, SUNN.... gear for next to nothing. I once purchased 2 x stock '72 Marshall Super Lead 100 watt half-stacks for $500.00 each.

Well, Bob Bradshaw built his rig, as well as many others during that time period, all using HH power amps. I'm pretty sure Bob chose the HHs, not the clients.

So, you're saying that Ed didn't begin using HH amps until after he made it big? Okay... I get it. Regardless, there was a nice selection of high quality MOSFET power amplifiers available in those days. The only "magic" involved, was Ed's talent and ability.

And, regardless of ‘other amps being available’ Ed and others could use anything they wanted.
Yet they used HH. For a reason.
I’ve used other power amps for W/D/W and the HH does an amazing job at keeping the original tone intact. Crown? Not even close. Very flat sounding compared to the HH. Don’t remember which model but it was bleh. Mesa Strategy? Monster amp but colors the tone. Dynamic as hell though.
When I first used the HH I thought it was a tube power amp based on the feel.
They really are worth trying. I found mine on eBay from a studio that was selling all their older gear. 300 shipped.
Grab one if you can. You might be surprised.

 

[Goat]

I’ve used other power amps for W/D/W and the HH does an amazing job at keeping the original tone intact. HH does an amazing job at keeping the original tone intact. Crown? Not even close. Very flat sounding compared to the HH.

Is a 'flat' curve not what you want for keeping the original tone entact? If Crown is 'flat' compared to HH, would this not mean that the HH is coloring the sound?

What brand of transformer(s) does the HH M900 use? Partridge, by any chance?

 

[Racerxrated]

I’ve used other power amps for W/D/W and the HH does an amazing job at keeping the original tone intact. HH does an amazing job at keeping the original tone intact. Crown? Not even close. Very flat sounding compared to the HH.

Is a 'flat' curve not what you want for keeping the original tone entact? If Crown is 'flat' compared to HH, would this not mean that the HH is coloring the sound?

What brand of transformer(s) does the HH M900 use? Partridge, by any chance?

Curve? What?? All I know and care about is what I HEAR with my ears. And to me, from the first time I fired up the HH with my setup I could easily see why this amp was the choice for many pros when it came to powering up multiple cabs on tour...it sounded EXACTLY like the host amp. When I tried a Crown long ago, it just didn't sound very good at all. Sounded like a poor impression of the host amp. That's the only way I can put it, that makes any sense. Just sounded bad. I also had at the time a Mosvalve power amp, and that sounded MUCH better but was the low powered version that wasn't going to work the way I wanted it to. The Strategy 400 was awesome but adds its own thing to the tone.
The HH can't color the sound if it reproduces the EXACT tone I hear from my Marshall or Mesa depending on which I'm using at the time. The transformers may be Partridge, but I haven't had it open since I bought it, when I cleaned it out as it was VERY dusty. I'll take a look when I get a chance.

 

[harddriver]

Transformer kinda looks like what you find in Hiwatts/Sound City amps, Partidge????? Pretty massive...

 

[braintheory]

I also have an old HH V800 and think it’s great for what it does. I had strategy 400, but not at the same time as my HH. I like the HH actually better from what I remember the strategy 400 sounding like, but would have to compare side by side to say for sure

When Racerxrated said the crown was flat, I don’t think he meant the eq being flat, but rather the amp sounding sterile/filtered and lacking responsiveness/liveliness, which is not the case with the HH. Even if it has a flat eq curve, it’ll do the opposite of keeping the amp’s tone in tact if it lacks that lively feel and organic tone. Take a great older amp like a iic+ or jmp and a sterile poweramp can make it sound neutered and take away from the magic of those amps. The HH is transparent and organic sounding and doesn’t interfere or tonally compromise that stuff

Some of the vintage solid state stuff can be good. My HH and 1986 Randall RG100ES are both solid state yet both sound great and actually quite organic, I’d say more so than than many tube amps made today. I bet most guys wouldn’t guess they were solid state if they played them blind folded

My HH is also annoyingly heavy, so I’m guessing it probably is a pretty good transformer, whatever it is

 

[Racerxrated]

I also have an old HH V800 and think it’s great for what it does. I had strategy 400, but not at the same time as my HH. I like the HH actually better from what I remember the strategy 400 sounding like, but would have to compare side by side to say for sure

When Racerxrated said the crown was flat, I don’t think he meant the eq being flat, but rather the amp sounding sterile/filtered and lacking responsiveness/liveliness, which is not the case with the HH. Even if it has a flat eq curve, it’ll do the opposite of keeping the amp’s tone in tact if it lacks that lively feel and organic tone. Take a great older amp like a iic+ or jmp and a sterile poweramp can make it sound neutered and take away from the magic of those amps. The HH is transparent and organic sounding and doesn’t interfere or tonally compromise that stuff

Some of the vintage solid state stuff can be good. My HH and 1986 Randall RG100ES are both solid state yet both sound great and actually quite organic, I’d say more so than than many tube amps made today. I bet most guys wouldn’t guess they were solid state if they played them blind folded

My HH is also annoyingly heavy, so I’m guessing it probably is a pretty good transformer, whatever it is

I never thought I'd ever try to lift a power amp as heavy as that Strategy 400...but I'd bet the HH gives it a close race in the weight dept.

 

[Goat]

Transformer kinda looks like what you find in Hiwatts/Sound City amps, Partidge????? Pretty massive...

Just as I suspected... Partridge!

 

[splawner]

HH all the way!

 

[Goat]

HH all the way!

Nice clean setup.

Do you mic the center cab, and use the HH for wet?

 

[splawner]

HH all the way!

Nice clean setup.

Do you mic the center cab, and use the HH for wet?

Thanks. Yes I use the HH for the wet cabs. The middle cab is just dry no mic. I’m waiting for my other cab to run 2 wet and 2 dry.

 

[Goat]

HH all the way!

Nice clean setup.

Do you mic the center cab, and use the HH for wet?

Thanks. Yes I use the HH for the wet cabs. The middle cab is just dry no mic. I’m waiting for my other cab to run 2 wet and 2 dry.

Old school single channel (no loop) Marshall rig is the way to go. It just doesn't get any better. I just know you've got a plexi head hiding somewhere.

 

[splawner]

HH all the way!

Nice clean setup.

Do you mic the center cab, and use the HH for wet?

Thanks. Yes I use the HH for the wet cabs. The middle cab is just dry no mic. I’m waiting for my other cab to run 2 wet and 2 dry.

Old school single channel (no loop) Marshall rig is the way to go. It just doesn't get any better. I just know you've got a plexi head hiding somewhere.

Haha... Yea for sure. For me Marshall is the end of the road. Tried many other amps and always go back to Marshalls. And yea funny you mentioned the plexi as I’m buying the Marshall Studio vintage today. Lol

 

[Goat]

Haha... Yea for sure. For me Marshall is the end of the road. Tried many other amps and always go back to Marshalls. And yea funny you mentioned the plexi as I’m buying the Marshall Studio vintage today. Lol

I've been through just about every high-gain, inspired by, multi-channel, loop-da-loop, etc... out there. I ended-up right back to what I started on. Marshall, and VOX. One amp that I've never owned is a vintage Fender Deluxe tweed. One day, maybe. The only non Marshall/VOX rig that I regret selling, is a modified single channel Carlsbro Top 100 head.

 

[splawner]

Haha... Yea for sure. For me Marshall is the end of the road. Tried many other amps and always go back to Marshalls. And yea funny you mentioned the plexi as I’m buying the Marshall Studio vintage today. Lol

I've been through just about every high-gain, inspired by, multi-channel, loop-da-loop, etc... out there. I ended-up right back to what I started on. Marshall, and VOX. One amp that I've never owned is a vintage Fender Deluxe tweed. One day, maybe. The only non Marshall/VOX rig that I regret selling, is a modified single channel Carlsbro Top 100 head.

Haha...yea I just think of all the money I wasted on trying out all the amps I did as I went in a complete circle right back to Marshalls. It was a fun ride thou lol.

 

[harddriver]

HH all the way!

Yes.... you have had just about every boutique high gainer Marshall out there. Is your JCM800 a reissue or an 80's model?

Are you concerned about the side mounted fan in the HH not drawing enough air mounted in the rack? Does the HH run hot at all, just curious, I would imagine that would only be an issue when driving it hard at max output.

 

[Goat]

...funny you mentioned the plexi as I’m buying the Marshall Studio vintage today.

Check-out the bridge tone from 4:26 to 4:30...